hobgoblin

noun

ˈhäb-ˌgäb-lən How to pronounce hobgoblin (audio)
Definition of hobgoblinnext
1
as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck is a hobgoblin who plays pranks such as spoiling milk and tripping old ladies

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2
as in dread
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason the fear of success and the pressures that come with it can be more of a hobgoblin than the possibility of failure

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hobgoblin Sailing teaches us that being an honorable competitor is more important than being a top competitor because while every race is there to lose, luck is the omnipresent hobgoblin. — Conor Mastromarco, Baltimore Sun, 18 Nov. 2024 Gleeson’s Puck is a malevolent hobgoblin who serves as the royal jester to King Auberon of Faerie. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 2 July 2024 Sightings of the mythical Nain Rouge, a red hobgoblin or dwarf that appears on the eve of tragedy, date to Detroit's origin — and locals have reclaimed the spirit with an annual march to scare the demon away, according to tradition. — Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024 As Ralph Waldo Emerson might have said in an essay of the same name (and did), a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds; Tommy seems to feel his brain shrinking along with his life. — John Anderson, WSJ, 9 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for hobgoblin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hobgoblin
  1. fairy
  2. dread
  3. elf
  4. ogre
  5. goblin
  6. terror
  7. dwarf
  8. bugbear
Noun
  • In this case, that’s Haddad’s uncle Charlie (played by a bubbling Jonathan Raviv), who is technically his father’s first cousin, but is also — crucially and non-derogatorily — very much a fairy.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But it should be based on tax projections, not procrastination or faith in the retirement account fairy.
    — Ronald Stair, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of fairy
Noun
  • The singer-songwriter’s seventh album is their wackiest and funniest to date, with a madcap gleam coursing through its synth-pop portraits of lovable weirdos and suburban dread.
    — Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Moton lingered on the turf for a while, punching the turf in pain and dread, before a cart came out to transport him to the locker room.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of dread
Noun
  • But the pièce de résistance is the Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt, which sends kids searching throughout the Pyramid for six mischievous elves in exchange for a special reward.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Filters that transform users into playful characters, like elves or puppies, will remain available for young people.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of elf
Noun
  • In 2015, Klum appeared as Jessica Rabbit; in 2018, as the ogre version of Fiona from Shrek.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Of course ogres and adversaries can shift shapes over decades.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of ogre
Noun
  • From glittering ghosts, ghastly goblins and wicked witches to wily warlocks, fashion can inspire any Halloween transformation.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Many would rather experience nightstalkers, goblins and witches that can't escape the theater or TV screen, or zombies and werewolves that won't lunge off the pages of a book.
    — Ayesha Rascoe, NPR, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of goblin
Noun
  • French President Emmanuel Macron called the shooting a racist terror attack, saying people were targeted due to their religion and the color of their skin.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Iran's proxy gang - the Yemeni terror group known as the Houthis - has recently killed civilians in Saudi Arabia with attacks on the airport.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of terror
Noun
  • While most citrus trees are too large for indoor growing, there are a few small or dwarf varieties of citrus that can be kept indoors year-round in pots.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
  • These explosions, known as hypernovas, were first proposed to explain unusual stars in the halo of our galaxy, the Milky Way, and in a neighboring dwarf galaxy.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dwarf
Noun
  • Cuba’s communist regime has historically been a bugbear for the US, particularly for Republicans.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 19 July 2026
  • The heat and humidity during our test week brought me to my other bugbear with the C-HR.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026
Definition of bugbear

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Cite this Entry

“Hobgoblin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hobgoblin. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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